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Our letter to Biden admin re #Tunisia: "Lending our taxpayer dollars & legitimacy to Saied will only encourage other leaders to believe that they too can get away w dismantling democratic institutions. If the US is truly serious about shoring up democracies worldwide, it must… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
Specifically:
1) The US should immediately suspend all assistance to the Tunisian government, as it is legally bound to do after military coups or civilian coups in which military plays decisive role. This has happened in Tunisia when army shuttered elected parliament.
1) The US should immediately suspend all assistance to the Tunisian government, as it is legally bound to do after military coups or civilian coups in which military plays decisive role. This has happened in Tunisia when army shuttered elected parliament.
2) The US should impose Magnitsky sanctions on Saied and his enablers, including the ministers of interior, defense, and justice, and not provide any funds, training, or equipment to these ministries while they persecute journalists, activists, and dissidents.
3) The Millennium Challenge Corporation was correct to halt work on Tunisia's $500 million Compact agreement, but formal suspension of the partnership by MCC's board—chaired by Secretary of State Antony Blinken—would send an even stronger signal.
4) The pending $1.9b IMF loan also represents an important lever. The US should ask IMF to refuse a final agreement until Tunisia meets specific political conditions, inc releasing political prisoners & establishing inclusive national dialogue & political roadmap.
"Even if Saied is too dogmatic to change, increased pressure might lead those around him to stop facilitating his crackdown, limiting damage he can do. It can also signal to the opposition—as well as everyday Tunisians —that the US is watching, not bankrolling their repression.
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